Inspectors uphold rating at academy

Published:08:55Wednesday 07 January 2015

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A Northumberland academy has been praised following a rigorous, unannounced inspection.

Inspectors visited Bede Academy in Blyth, to carry out a no notice monitoring inspection at the end of November, where they interviewed staff and students and reviewed documents including safeguarding and child protection policies, attendance records, minutes of governors’ meetings and schemes of work.

In the report released this week, the academy was judged to be good and quickly improving, with some teaching rated as outstanding.

The inspectors upheld the ‘good’ judgement received by the academy in 2012, and said the academy offered a broad range of subjects and the curriculum “is well matched to students’ needs and provides well for their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development”.

They added: “Students achieve well. High expectations are clear throughout the academy and students are encouraged to strive for academic success.

“Students are proud to wear the academy uniform, have positive attitudes to each other and to adults, and play a key role in making the academy a harmonious and pleasant community to work in and be part of.”

Principal Gwyneth Evans said: “This was not a full Ofsted inspection but nevertheless was extremely thorough and we received no warning that the inspectors were coming, which makes their positive comments all the more encouraging.”